Variable resistor

ABSTRACT

A variable resistor including an optical indicating means in which the optical indicating means is associated with the variable resistor in such a manner that the illumination or the intensity of the optical indicating means represents the position of the variable resistor whereby the movement of the variable resistor is perceived with emphasis and the image of the product set with the variable resistor is enhanced.

United States Patent 1191 Oka [ Nov. 12, 1974 [5 VARIABLE RESISTOR 2.457920 1/1949 Rider 338/1 10 t I I I 2,469,924 5 1949 Kunz 338/119 [75] Shun JdPm 3,118,422 H1964 McNamara 240 1 LP 73 Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., 31141098 8/1964 Ltd. Osaka, Japan 3,544,749 12/1970 De Angelo t 350/96 B X 22 Fl 1 D 72 1 led ec 26 19 Primary Examiner.l. V. Truhe [2]] Appl. No.: 318,642 Assistant ExaminerDavid A. Tone Attorney, Agent, or FirmStevens, Davis, Miller & [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mosher Dec. 29, 1971 Japan 571100242 Mar. 14, 1972 Japan 47-030908 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 338/119, 338/196, 350/96 B, A variable resistor including an optical indicating 240/1 LP, 240/21 means in which the optical indicating means is associ- [51] Int. Cl HOlc l/00 ated with the variable resistor in such a manner that [58] Field of Search 338/119, 196; 200/167 A; the illumination or the intensity of the optical indicat- 116/124.4, 129 P, 129 L; 350/96 B; ing means represents the position of the variable resis- 240/1 LP, 2.1 tor whereby the movement of the variable resistor is I 7 perceived with emphasis and the image of the product [56] References Cited set with the variable resistor is enhanced.

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VARIABLE RESISTOR The present invention relates to a variable resistor, and more particularly to a variable resistor including an optical indicating means.

It is an object of the present invention to provide, in a variable resistor, means for optically indicating the position of the variable resistor by associating with the variable resistor.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a variable resistor including an optical indicating means by which the movement of the variable resistor is perceived with emphasis.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a variable resistor including an optical indicating means by which the image of the product set with the variable resistor is enhanced.

According to the present invention, there is provided a variable resistor comprising a base plate of an insulating material, a resistor mounted on the base plate, bearing means secured to the base plate, a hollow operating shaft joumalled by the bearing means, a brush mount supporting a brush for sliding contact with the resistor, a contact element which is in contact with the brush, and light generating means disposed in the operating shaft. According to another aspect of the present invention, the light generating means may be disposed outside of operating shaft, and means may be provided in the shaft for directing the light from the light generating means through the shaft. The light directing means may comprise a bundle of optical fiber elements having an obliquely cut inner end. The bundle may comrpise a plurality of groups of optical fiber elements, each of the group having an inner end bent in a direction different from those of the other goups.

The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions of preferred embodiments taking reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a variable resistor embodying the feature of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a further embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, particularly to FIG. 1, the variable resistor shown therein includes a base plate 1 made of a suitable insulating material. A resistor 2 of an arcuated shape is mounted on the bottom surface of the base plate 1. The resistor 2 has outboard terminals (not shown) at the opposite ends. On the bottom surface of the base plate 1, there is also mounted a contact element 3 by a rivet portion 5 integrally formed on an intermediate terminal lug 4. A bearing element 6 is secured to the base plate 1 with the intervention of a shield plte 7. The bearing element 6 rotatably supports a hollow operating shaft 8. A brush mount 9 is secured to the inner end of the operating shaft 8 and a knob 12 is secured to the outer end thereof. The brush mount 9 supports a brush 10 for sliding contact with the resistor 2. The contact element 3 is always in contact with the brush 10 so that the element 3 is electrically connected through the brush 10 with the resistor 2. Thus, as the operating shaft 8 is rotated, the brush 10 is moved on the resistor 2. A cover 11 of a suitable material is mounted on the base plate 1 so as to cover the resistor 2, the brush mount 9 and the brush 10. The

knob 12 has a central opening 13 which is covered by a transparent or translucent plate 14. A bundle 15 of optic fiber elements, such as fiber glass elements, is inserted in the operating shaft in such a manner that the inner or lower end of the bundle extends beyond the inner end of the operating shaft through an opening 16 formed in the bottom of the cover 11. The projecting end of the bundle 15 is obliquely cut as shown in FIG. 1. The reference character A designates a light source for directing a light L to the oblique end of the bundle.

In operation, the light L from the light source A is directed to the obliquely cut end of the bundle 15 and transmitted therethrough to the plate 14. Since the inner end of the bundle 15 is obliquely cut, the intensity of light transmitted through the bundle 15 to the plate 14 is varied as the operating shaft 8 is rotated. Thus, it will be seen that the position of the variable resistor can be shown by the illumination or the intensity of light on the plate 14. It is of course possible to designate a symbol such as a character or a numeral on the plate 14.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals with the addition of a suffix a. In this embodiment, a bundle of optical fiber elements is not disposed in the hollow operating shaft 8a but a lamp 16 is disposed in the shaft 8a and mounted on the cover 11a by means of a socket 17. The lamp 16 is connected through the variable resistor to a power source (not shown).

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 in which corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 with the addition of a suffix b, the bundle of optical fiber elements 15b is divided into a plurality of groups. Each of the groups has an inner end bent in a direction different from those of the other groups. It will be apparent that the arrangement of FIG. 3 operates in a similar manner as that of FIG. 1.

The invention has thus been shown and described with reference to specific embodiments which are believed as being preferable, but it should be understood that the invention is in no way limited to the details of the illustrated embodiments and that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A variable resistor comprising a base plate of an insulating material, a resistor mounted on the base plate, bearing means secured to the base plate, a hollow operating shaft joumalled by the bearing means, a brush mount supporting a brush for sliding contact with the resistor, a contact element which is in contact with the brush, and a bundle of optical fiber elements disposed in the hollow operating shaft having an obliquely cut end adjacent to light generating means.

2. A variable resistor comprising a base plate of an insulating material, a resistor mounted on the base plate, bearing means secured to the base plate, a hollow operating shaft joumalled by the bearing means, a brush mount supporting a brush for sliding contact with the resistor, a contact element which is in contact with the brush, and a bundle of optical fiber elements which are disposed in the operating shaft and divided into a plurality of groups, each of said groups having one end projecting beyond the operating shaft and bent in a direction different fromthose of the other groups. 

1. A variable resistor comprising a base plate of an insulating material, a resistor mounted on the base plate, bearing means secured to the base plate, a hollow operating shaft journalled by the bearing means, a brush mount supporting a brush for sliding contact with the resistor, a contact element which is in contact with the brush, and a bundle of optical fiber elements disposed in the hollow operating shaft having an obliquely cut end adjacent to light generating means.
 2. A variable resistor comprising a base plate of an insulating material, a resistor mounted on the base plate, bearing means secured to the base plate, a hollow operating shaft journalled by the bearing means, a brush mount supporting a brush for sliding contact with the resistor, a contact element which is in contact with the brush, and a bundle of optical fiber elements which are disposed in the operating shaft and divided into a plurality of groups, each of said groups having one end projecting beyond the operating shaft and bent In a direction different from those of the other groups. 